In the last newsletter, I talked about How I Survived Pregnancy Without Medication. My story garnered a number of responses from readers about their own experiences with medication. You can read my story, as well as the responses, on my blog at http://www.ExperiencingADDvantages.com.
Since telling my medication story, I've heard from a number of people whose biggest problem when it comes to medication is finding the right doctor to prescribe it! So I think this is an excellent time to run an excerpt from my book, Odd One Out: The Maverick's Guide to Adult ADD, about how to find the right doctor to treat your ADD:
Many adults with ADD largely ignore one very important factor in self-care: health care providers.
Whether you're looking for a dentist or a general practitioner, it's tough to find good doctors today. Very few actually take the time to get to know you and develop a personal relationship with you. And (in the United States, at least) when you find a good one who does go out of their way to provide you with top-notch care, they usually don't take your insurance!
If you walk out of your doctor's office grumbling about what a jerk they are, then it is not okay to continue seeing them.
When you choose a doctor, you put your health in their hands. You trust them to determine if there are any problems that need to be addressed, and to help you take preventative measures for illnesses and diseases that you may be at risk for. Never trust your care to someone who doesn't answer your questions or take your concerns seriously.
While this makes sense on paper, it becomes a problem for many adults with ADD because finding good doctors requires a lot of time and effort. It's often easier to go to the doctor who is close by, or the doctor who takes your insurance, because you just don't feel like going through the process of looking for a new one. However, finding good doctors is an investment in yourself and your health.
The first and easiest thing you can do to find a good doctor is to ask around. Ask your friends, family, and neighbors who they recommend. This cuts down on a lot of research time, and if a doctor gets along well with someone whom you get along well with, then chances are you may be a good fit!
You can also check your health insurance provider's directory. If you find someone that looks good, try Googling their name. See what you can find out about that doctor online. Do they have a website or an online profile? Perhaps they have published a paper or appeared in an article. Or, if you're really lucky, you may come across a patient rating of the doctor! These are all great ways to get a sense of the doctor and their personality before you commit to a visit.
Lastly, try, try again. If you visit a doctor that you don't gel with, don't be afraid to stop seeing them, and see someone else, instead. Mavericks identify what they want and then go for it. A little extra effort isn't enough to stop them. Sure, all of these strategies can be time consuming and frustrating, but isn't your health worth it?
And by the way, everything said above applies to therapists, counselors, and coaches, too!
We'll be touching on this subject, and so much more, at the AD/HD Medication Matters Summit next month. The Summit is a live, online event that is designed to help you cut through the confusion and get the facts about AD/HD and medication.
Prominent neuropsychiatrist Theresa Cerulli, MD will be joining me in this online summit to teach you everything you need to know about AD/HD and medications. Over the course of 2 evenings, you'll:
2. Learn how medications work in the brain
3. Receive a comprehensive review of the medications that are available to treat AD/HD
4. Grasp the difference between stimulant and nonstimulant, brand name and generic, and long and short acting medications
5. Recognize which symptoms and challenges can and can't be helped by AD/HD medications
6. Discover how to tell when you've got the right medication at the right dose
7. Uncover the common side effects of medications, and learn what you can do to avoid them
8. Assess the medications used to treat common coexisting conditions, like depression and anxiety
9. Find out if certain medications are better for women vs. men, kids vs. adults, and the inattentive vs. the hyperactive
10. Understand when it's NOT safe to take AD/HD medications
12. Determine what to do if you disagree with your doctor's treatment plan
13. Get your questions answered by a neuropsychiatrist who is an expert on AD/HD
The AD/HD Medication Matters Summit takes place online and in the comfort of your own home or office. Join us on June 14 & 15 (Tuesday and Wednesday) from 7-9pm EDT. Don't worry if you can't attend live, because the presentation will be recorded and the audios, as well as the slides, are yours to keep.
Visit the AD/HD Medication Matters Summit website to register or learn more!
ADD Quick Links & Announcements
Twitter Contest - Win a ticket to the AD/HD Medication Matters Online Summit: http://www.ExperiencingADDvantages.com
Join the ADD Mavericks tribe on Facebook and download a complimentary audio on how to "Unleash Your Inner Maverick": http://www.Facebook.com/ADDmavericks
Reminder for AD/HD Professionals - Proposals to present at the 4th Annual Virtual AD/HD Conference are due by May 31: http://ADHDconference.com/proposals.shtml
P.S. Remember, finding good health care providers is an important part of self-care for people with ADD. Make it a priority!
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